Fairfield (NJ) The Fairfield Police Department announces the promotions of four officers to the rank of sergeant and the swearing in of a new Class II Special Police Officer at the January 13, 2020 meeting of the Fairfield Mayor and Council. Promoted to sergeant were Detective Brian Sabatelli, Detective Robert Sanger, Officer R.J. Casendino and Officer Steven Ptaszynski. Also sworn in at this meeting was Special Police Officer Patrick Reynolds.
Sergeant Brian Sabatelli
Sergeant Sabatelli began his career with the Fairfield Police Department as a dispatcher in September 2004. He became a Fairfield police officer in June 2005. For the last 18 months or so, he has been assigned to the DEA’s HIDTA Task Force Group 1. During his tenure with the DEA, his task force group was commended twice by the New Jersey Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association. In 2018, the group was commended for an investigation that targeted heroin traffickers, which resulted in numerous arrests and the seizure of a variety of weapons and drugs. The investigation ultimately led to drug suppliers in both the Dominican Republic and Mexico and resulted in ranking members of a drug cartel being arrested. In 2019, his group was presented with the Guns, Gangs & Drugs Law Enforcement Award.
While with the Fairfield Police Department, Sergeant Sabatelli has received four unit citations, a criminal apprehension award and an honorable service citation. He is a former department DARE officer and is a current firearms instructor and armorer. He holds Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from Mary Washington College in Virginia and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Training & Development from Seton Hall University.
He is married to his wife Jackie who is a former Fairfield police dispatcher and current Ramsey police detective. He has two children, Gabby and Brayden. Sergeant Sabatelli is now assigned to the Patrol Division as a squad supervisor.
Sergeant Robert Sanger
Sergeant Sanger began his law enforcement career with the North Bergen Police Department in 1994. He joined the Fairfield Police Department on February 14, 2000. He was assigned to the Investigative Division for the last seven years.
Sergeant Sanger is a founding member of the department’s honor guard, is a current Police Training Commission certified academy instructor and as the department’s accreditation manager, was instrumental in the department receiving its initial accreditation certificate from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police in 2007 and each of the three
re-accreditation cycles that followed.
Perhaps his greatest contribution as far as a legacy goes is the work he has done in organizing the department’s participation in the annual New Jersey Special Olympics Plane Pull held at Newark Airport. Due mostly to his efforts, for the last 19 years, the department has raised approximately $125,000 to benefit this worthy charity. Almost every year, Sergeant Sanger and some friends of the department have always assured that Fairfield was the top fundraising department for this event. I know that Sergeant Sanger is most proud that in 2018, the department captured first place in all three categories, fastest pull time, fastest pull time with lowest combined weight and most importantly the top fundraiser.
During his tenure in Fairfield, Sergeant Sanger has received three unit citations and two
exceptional service awards. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from Pratt
Institute in New York and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Training and Development from Seton Hall University. He is married to his wife Michelle.
Sergeant RJ Casendino
Sergeant Casendino began his career with Fairfield in August 2005 as a police dispatcher. He was hired as a Fairfield police officer in March 2007. During his tenure, he was a member of the Essex/Union Auto Theft Task Force, was a drug recognition expert and an emergency medical technician. He most recently served as Fairfield’s representative to PBA Local #81 but had to resign from this position due to his promotion, however he still serves as treasurer for the PBA.
Sergeant Casendino is currently assigned to the Administrative Division where he has been the catalyst for the establishment and success of the Fairfield Police Foundation, a recognized 501 c3 charity whose board of directors helps to support the police department with equipment and training outside of the funding found in the municipal budget. As the department’s liaison to the foundation, he has helped to raise the department’s positive image within the community with many residents, businesses and civic organizations.
Sergeant Casendino has been commended with five lifesaving awards, seven unit citations, one honorable service award, two exceptional service awards, two drug apprehension awards and one criminal apprehension award. In 2019, he received the Essex County Crime Prevention Officers Association Officer of the Year Award.
He is married to his wife Dawn and the couple has three children, Cameron, Brianna and Brendan. Sergeant Casendino will continue his assignment in the Administrative Division.
Sergeant Steven Ptaszynski
Sergeant Ptaszynski began his law enforcement career with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office & Bureau of Corrections in October 2007. He joined the Fairfield Police Department in September 2008. He has been most recently assigned to the Patrol Division in its Special Enforcement Unit.
Sergeant Ptaszynski is currently an emergency medical technician, with instructor certifications in CPR, Narcan use, stop the bleed, de-escalation and is a Police Training Commission certified instructor. He is also a drug recognition expert, field training officer and one of the department’s terminal agency coordinators.
During his tenure with the department he has received six unit citations, a narcotics arrest citation and a lifesaving award. He has also been recognized by the State of New Jersey as a 2010 Top Gun DWI Enforcement Award recipient and also received a 2012 Law Enforcement Distinguished Service Award from Mothers Against Drunken Driving.
Sergeant Ptaszynski holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Behavioral Sciences from Drew University. He is married to his wife Jennifer. Sergeant Ptaszynski will be assigned to the Patrol Division as a squad supervisor.
Class II Special Police Officer Patrick Reynolds
Officer Reynolds started his law enforcement career with the Essex County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy sheriff. He attended the Essex County Police Academy graduating in 2018. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in Psychology from Marist College and is currently working on his Master’s Degree in national security studies. He is a certified emergency medical technician and a CPR instructor. I am very happy to welcome him to our department as a class II special police officer.
“Today marks another landmark day for the Fairfield Police Department with the swearing in of one new class II special police officer and the promotion of four new sergeants. As always, I thank the mayor, council members and the administrator who continue to support the police department in so many ways but mostly by assuring that the department’s staffing levels are maintained and that vacancies in the table of organization are filled as
soon as is possible.” said Chief Anthony G. Manna
Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna
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